Conservation Services’ battle to tackle invasive species and preserve the Island’s endemic fauna and flora has made significant strides, according to Environment Minister Jeanne Atherden.

Detailing how their $4.6 million budget would be distributed in the coming financial year, Ms Atherden highlighted a success stories and outlined Conservation Services’ priorities for 2015-16.

She told the House of Assembly that the department was expected to complete its National Invasive Species Strategy, which is set to herald new legislation in the coming year.

“This year the focus was on implementing the Feral Chicken Management Plan to include innovative but humane ways of dealing with this pest,” Mrs Atherden said.

“Since the inception of the programme in October 2013, the department has received over 650 requests for assistance and the programme has now removed over 22,800 feral chickens, as well as 2,500 feral pigeons, 150 crows and 200 red-eared sliders.

“Work to eradicate Casuarina and Brazil Pepper trees and other invasive, introduced plant species on Nonsuch and the other Castle Harbour Islands has continued, with over 18,783 invasive plants being removed from Nonsuch Island alone during 2014.

“Volunteers from Ascendant have also helped department staff in removing over a thousand Casuarina and Pepper trees on Castle Island, and have completely cleared them from the historic fortifications of the King’s Castle Fort and the Landward Fort on the Island, where they had been damaging the masonry of the forts with their rampant root growth.

“In addition, about half of the Devonshire Redoubt Fort was also cleared of damaging Casuarina trees.”

Ms Atherden hailed the contribution of the department to the recently released National Geographic programme, Drain the Bermuda Triangle, and its assistance providing coastal environmental sensitivity data to Rubis.

She also praised the department for the launch of the Bermuda Plantfinder website, which identifies Bermuda’s plants and provides advice on where and what to plant for different situations.

“So far this year, 17 protected species licences were issued, including one for a Bermuda cedar tree coring project undertaken in collaboration with researchers from the University of Nipissing in Ontario, Canada, to better understand the growth rate of our national tree.

“The department also published the management and recovery plans for Bermuda’s resident sea turtles, as well as for Bermuda’s critically endangered cave fauna.”

The Environment Minister revealed that construction on the aquarium hall roof was expected to be complete by the end of the month.

“BAMZ staff have already begun work on reinstating the aquarium tanks and revamping the interior,” she said. “This is expected to take eight to ten weeks, with the hall being reopened to the public in April 2015 ready for the summer season.

“Further construction to the frontage of the facility will occur in the fall to improve the front entrance layout. The BAMZ front desk will be improved as will the transition to the newly updated aquarium hall.”

• For full ministerial statement, click on the PDF file under “Related Media”.